On Friday, Oct. 31 the University held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new residence hall, set to be ready for use by either the summer or fall of 2027. Though construction on the site began in late June of this year, speakers noted the importance of acknowledging this new chapter and how this new living space will be beneficial for future Brandeis students. 

The ceremony for Brandeis’ modernized residence hall began with a brief welcome from the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, Shelby Harris. Harris mentioned that it was a busy weekend for the University, not only because of the ceremony, but Family Weekend as well, which is why they chose to hold the ceremony for a time when there were “a lot of folks around.” The event was attended by about 30 people, including staff members from the Department of Community Living, the Office of Marketing Communications, parents, alumni, students and student leaders, architects, construction workers and University President Arthur Levine ’70. 

Levine made brief remarks, beginning with a joke: “I’m gonna keep this fast,” noting the cold and rainy weather. He asserted that “[Brandeis is] about to enter a golden age, and this [new residence hall] is the first physical manifestation thereof.” The president also extended his thanks to those who had been heavily engaged with the project, including the architects from William Rawn Associates and parents of students who will benefit from the new dorms. 

The new residence hall will be located behind the Theater Lot, and its structure is already visible to passersbys, lauding a sign reading “Brandeis Builds.” The hall is being made to resemble  “neighborhood style” architecture and consists of two towers. It will have an elevator, which ensures accessibility and will help residents navigate its five stories. The residence hall will also feature air conditioning and individual user restrooms, with doubles and singles in traditional corridor style housing. The dorm will house students in their sophomore, junior or senior years. 

The University administration placed heavy emphasis on community style living. They shared that each “neighborhood” will house about 35 students, who will also have access to a communal courtyard and amphitheater. The residence hall will hold 631 beds total, making it the largest residence hall on campus. The building will  also include a fitness center, special rooms for students to attend telehealth appointments or virtual classes, a kitchen in each neighborhood and a multipurpose room on the bottom floor. Ultimately, the administration feels this living style will help strengthen a sense of community and become a space students utilize to build relationships and make the most of their time at Brandeis. 

Nationally, the number of students applying to undergraduate institutions has been steadily declining. With this decline in students also comes grave implications for the United States economy. As fewer students graduate, this leaves the workforce with fewer employees and more vacant positions. This has also left many schools at risk of closure, and so they are seeking new ways to gain prospective student interest. While over 10,000 students applied to Brandeis for the fall 2024 semester, high-quality residential, academic and social life on campus are often some of the largest factors for students making their college decisions. As such, many schools are deliberating on ways they can increase student recruitment, including by making new investments that will incentivize more people to apply.

When asked about how this new living style will support students and inspire Brandeis’ new “golden age,” Harris said this dorm will “meet the needs of students today and in the future.” She also shared that, in planning to prepare for this new residence hall, administrators held many focus groups to get a sense of what students wanted to see in a new dorm. They also gauged student opinion by assessing a survey, which received about 2,000 responses from students. She felt these spaces would be a “foot forward” and “a wonderful living learning community for our students.” Members of Brandeis leadership see the new dormitory as a look towards the future and an investment in the wellbeing of many generations of students to come.

The ceremony concluded with a series of photos with those who were involved in the building’s planning and construction, including DCL employees, workers from Dimeo Construction and William Rawn Associates and some students and parents, at Levine’s encouragement. While the event was brief, speakers noted the importance of recognizing the construction of this new residential building as a central part of Brandeis’ future and a clear investment in the university’s priorities. 

Models of the new hall can be found on the Brandeis website, along with additional information about amenities and the University’s plan.